YOLO on Hard

Yolo was put on the hard for maintenance on Thursday, 30th October. She is having her bottom cleaned and resprayed to racing surface, anodes replaced, top sides polished and stripe removed. At the same time the Xtra-Link decal will be applied. Yolo is due to go back in the water on Tuesday, 4th November in time for Team training on Wed and IRC nationals.

WEDNESDAY Night Racing -29 October 2014

With a Nice NE type wind... around 12-14 knots.. Yolo took a conservative start as some of the Class one boats pushed over the line and were a bit menacing. This meant sailing in bad airs coming off the bigger boats for a while till the fleet stretched out. A nice, but somewhat bumpy first beat... Round the first mark and then a fetch to Landfall.. following a run to Number 8 which had the longer boats pulling on us from behind and ahead. Coming into Number 8 there was a certain J11.1 in the Class one spinnaker class reaching in at quite a speed with Assym up.. before the three boat lengths we hailed to them NO WATER.. at the three boat lengths we hailed again, but they persisted and as we were running in slowly and they were power reaching so they quickly got inside and we had to give room to them for fear of a collision.. This was disappointing as firstly this boat could easily have gone around the outside given their power and secondly this boat had aboard people who clearly knew their rules and just stone facedly set them aside to force the inside.. We did not bother to protest.. as for us it was a fun night out...But they certainly gave a new meaning to the word sportsmanship. I was particularity disappointing in this teams actions.. as their actions were not consistent to the manner they normally conduct themselves and frankly in a more fierce race would cost the owner a lot of money.
Following number 8 mark, a shy reach to the finish.
We came third overall.. but to qualify that, our fleet is particularity small so not really a notable accomplishment.
Aboard were: Ian, Dale, Sieger, Denise, Shane, Evan, Denis(nice to have back aboard), Guests Peter and Jan(from Israel)

SUNFAST 3200 - IRC boat of the year 2014(in France I think)

http://www.sunfast.fr/news/sun-fast-3200-irc-boat-of-the-year-2014.html

WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACE 22nd October 2014

Nice turnout on the water, with a light, fickle SW blowing. We positioned where we wanted to be on the start line, but the bridge called us over so we had to sail back and restart, we then needed to duck a few boats and got going. We quickly started to make gains in the shifts but then opted to sail what turned out to be a lifting tack, with us on the outside which means coming back on the header, which hurt us. The breeze all the while slowly softening, which allowed the faster guys to hold on their lead. the downwinds were mundane with us not being able to shake the L34's of which some caught right up with us. IN the end, not the greatest race for us.. but nice sailing was had. Boat performed well.  We are concerned aboard though that the class we have chosen has turned out to be very small. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Evan, Denise.

ROUND ROBBEN ISLAND RACE

With a Nice SW setting into the bay, the day was all set for a good sail.
Unfortunately there was confusion at the start.. as the Sailing office had issued new start times as per their notice that final times will be issued at 10am. However with less then 5 minutes to the start we figured out that some boats who should not have started had already started, we put this down to the bridge still using the previous start times.. we quickly got our jib up and made for the start area.. We got an OK start(Pursuit Race) Unfortunately there were still a few boats who were working to the new start times that lost out.
The first leg to the island was mundane with the longer waterline boats slowly catching up. Closing into the island we were the first to hoist out kite which helped hold off the longer boats until they hoisted. As we started to round the island the larger boats were breathing down our neck already.. With us going through the slower boats.  We were quickly overhauled by the Farr... who left all of us behind.. with us jostling with the Simonis 35's.. who had speed on us, with us just holding the inside track. We did an early drop as we rounded the leeward side of the island and Followed the first passing Simonis to the weather of an anchored fishing boat.. where we caught a clump of Kelp.. We immediately realized this, so we backwinded. By this time the other Simonis 35 had sailed through us.. and both dissaapeared int he distance as it was another waterline leg.
This was not the best race for Yolo with two medium wind fetch legs making up the majority of the race.. and with it being a Pursuit race, Race length based on rating differentials would have us completing in 100min.. (which was not the case) It is very difficult to be perfect for a pursuit race.
Fortunately we are not competing for the Club Championships this year(focusing on IRC) so it has no effect for us.. but does effect a number of other boats.
All in all, a great day on the water. Thanks to the generous sponsors.
Aboard were: Ian, Dale, Sieger, Shane, Evan, Michael(New Michael aboard)

WEDNESDAY Night Racing -15th October 2014

First Wednesday night race of the season.
Yolo is taking a more laid back approach.
Sea was flat with a SE on the water, ranging between 12-18 knots with light winds in the finish area.

Yolo opted to start down the line with clear breeze(as the breeze was still filling in) Good start with Yolo working the boat to get to the first mark first.. Something that she should not normally do with bigger and faster boats on the water. On the downwind Yolo tussled with Regardless to keep breeze clear.. which involved a chase away for the course. the fetch across the bay had Yolo a few boat lengths behind Regardless which she maintained and on the final beat caught up with a few tacks on shifts. just before the finish, there was a header in light breeze which allowed Regardless to beat Yolo by one second.
Yolo came third in her class.
We were dissapointed to see that we were sailing in the smallest class. this makes it less competition.. We will have to reconsider.
Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Siger, Shane, Even Smuts. Boat performed well.

IRC Nationals 2014 -Xtra-Link

Yolo will be racing under the banner of Xtra-Link for the the IRC Nationals which takes place between the 6-8 November 2014.

Xtra-Link is a specialist company which specializes in radio and Satellite communications systems and connectivity. They are linked to offices worldwide which is fed from their distribution centers in Europe and Dubai UAE.
In addition they have a technical support division.

The Company Motto is "NEVER BEYOND REACH"

The CEO, Hans Kuijt of Xtra-Link will be flying in to do the event as well as Clarence Hendricks from the Dubai Office. Both are accomplished sailors with many miles under their belts. Both campaigning regularly out of DOSC in the UAE.

More info on the IRC nationals at www.ircsa.co.za

RCYC Opening Cruise 2014

The Season has begun..
RCYC Opening took place in magnificent style starting at the club with the normal protocols followed by the club cannons being fired.. thereafter an official sailpast which took place in the V&A with the Chavonne battery firing off more cannons, marking the RCYC 111th Season.

Aboard were Dale, Sieger, Ian and the Kushner and Coward families.

Pics Credit: Trevor Wilkins

More Spring Regatta Pics.. Courtesy of Dave Mabin